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PROBLEM: INACCURATE BLADE ANGLES Adjust the 45° and 90° stops V irtually all tablesaws have adjustable devices that stop the arbor as- sembly when the blade is perpendicular to the table and when it's tilted at 45°. Most often these devices consist of a bolt and locknut mounted on the arbor-carriage assembly. On the saw table we tuned up, the stop bolts are mounted on the fronttrunnion assembly. The 45° tilt can be accessed through the slot on the front of the cabinet that is for the blade-lift crank handle. The 90° stop can be reached through the motor opening in the side of the cabinet. To adjust the stops, set the blade to the desired angle, loosen the locknut, and then retighten it after repositioning the stop bolt. I use a plastic 45° drafting triangle to set the tilt angle and a 6-in. sliding square to set the 90° stop. Always recheck after tightening the locknut to make sure the adjustment stayed accurate. Getting properly inclined. The 45° stop bolt on many saws can't be reached when the arbor is tilted all the way to 45°, so setting it takes some finagling. Loosen the bolt so that the blade stops before 45°. Then tighten it a little, and check the angle with a drafting triangle. Repeat the procedure until you find the exact setting for 45°. Setting the blade upright. The 90° stop is usually easy to reach. Simply loosen the stop bolt and use a square to set the blade to exactly 90°. Then turn the stop bolt snug to the stop, and tighten the locknut on the stop bolt. PROBLEM: BURN MARKS WHILE RIPPING Adjust the rip fence paral lel to the blade O ne of the last adjustments I perform is to set the rip fence parallel with the miter slot and thus parallel with the blade. Some woodworkers angle the fence a few degrees away from the back of the blade to help avoid binding. I like to keep things parallel and rely on a well-tuned saw and stable, well-dried lumber to keep me out of trouble. The sides of the fence also should be checked with a reliable square for an accurate 90° to the tabletop. Some fences don't have an easy means of adjustment. One solution is to attach a supplemental wood fence that is beveled or shimmed square to the saw table. SEPTEM BE R/O CTO BER 2005 53